Visual-signal-receiving system.



PATENTED JUNB, lsaof E. A. FALLER.

VISUAL SIGNAL RECEIVING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY2B,19CI3.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l Kut! n:

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No, 822,888. A Y PATENTES NE 5, 1906.

Y f QELLSR.

VISUAL SG'AL RECEIVING SYSTEM. Anrmale im@ JULY as, 1903.

@wr i o? 5 35mm-SHEET a'` PATENTED JUNE 5, NQS.'

SYSTEM.

No. 822,888. Y M "wir Y E. .fssa,

VISUAL SIGNAL RSGEIVING APPLIGMIOE PLED JI'ILY sa,

Y Y PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

E. A. FALLER. VSUAL SGNAL RBGEVN'G SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY28.19D3.

UNITED STATES miTENT OFFICE.

ERNEST A. FALLER, OF NEVY YORK, N. VISUAL-SIGNAL-REGEIVING SYSTEM.'

Specification ef Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 190e.

Application led July 28, 1903. Serial No. 137.311`

To all whom Ait may concern: Y Beit known that I, ERNEST A. FALLER, a

' citizen of the German Empire, residing in the l Letters city of New York, in the county of N ew York semi-automatic tele hone-exchange.

In semi-automatic tele hone s stemssuch, for example, as descri ed in t e abovementioned patentthe work of the o erator at the central exchange is greatly diminished by the elimination of the oral transmission of the number ofthe called subscriber.

Itis theprincipal object ofthe present invention to `further simplify the working of, telephone-exchanges by eliminating all functions of the operator at an exchange except those which require the very least mental -and intellectual effort.

The modern tele hone-switchboard is the result of previous e erts to limit the number of operations taking lace when telephonie connection is desired) between two subscribers. In this board the lamp-signals or drop-annunciators are located in close roximity, and the operators eye was guidped'to the callin -line whichV was to be plugged by said signa The next step of the operator was to depress'the listening-key and'receit'feY the orai instruction of the calling subscriber t quired to do is to as to the number desired, whereupon she plugged the multi le 'ack to make connection with the calle su scriber.

The present invention renders it possible to limit the efforts of the operatorto the simplicity of the first step in a modern telephoneexchan in seein a lamp light or anannunciaterV rop and p ug the corre ending jack. All additional steps taken b t e operatar in making connection are near y identical with this firststep .and nearly devoid'o mental effort. The operator is-guided over the panelsof her switchboard by the successivefdisi,

playing of visual signals, and 'all she-is-,re-

p ace plugs into -anysack whose lamp ,is lighted and operate the elf-- keys in the process of lmatic viewpf the 'si switching. Itis further thought to be broadl new to automaticallyl translate a variab e electrical signal into a visual or optical signal, as it were, at a certain point in space correspondin to and Vvarying with the components of t e electrical signal, each optical signal individually adjacent to its line-termina One of the objects of the present invention, therefore, is to provide means for dis laying visual si als in the manner described? It is known t at most of the time by the operator in making connection between a calling subscrber and a called subscriber, is consumed in orall vreceivin the number of the subscriber esired an associating the location of the jack with the number orally received, but it 1s also known that the act of transmitting a variable signal b mechanical means takes only a fraction oft e time it would take in orall transmitting the same signal.

Anotliier obiect of the present invention is to Ymaterially reduce the amount of human labor required at a telephone-endian e in.

Amaking connection between the subscri ers stations and the -exchange by providing means for guiding the hand of the operator over her switchboard without any oral ini struction from or communication with the subsoribers,'and therefore with a minimum of mental effort. r Y

The invention is fully set forth in the descri tion and illustrated in a preferred form in t e drawings, but not intended to be limited to that particular form, as other forms may be chosen without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of the present application for Letters atent, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the trunking-panel of an exchange-section Fig. 2 is a similar view of the answeringpanelof the same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of one of the impulse-receivers at an exchange-section. Fig. `4 is a top view ofthe same. on the left-hand side of the middle line of Fig. 3.

on the iat-hand side of the middle line of Fig. 3 loo ng to the left. Fig. 7 is a vertical I G0 Fig. 5 is a similar view of .the receiver f 6 is a side view of the receiverV cross-sectional view in the line A A of Fig. Y3

lookin' to the left. Y in the e AA of Fig. Blocking-to the 1g.

Fi Qisasimilar viewinthe lineB Bof` 3 ooking tothe right. Fig. 10 isa diagramal-sending apparatus at asubscribers station connected to the ex- Fig.8 is a similar viewl 4provided with numerals, letters, or other change-section. Fig.v 11 is a dia ammatic view of the circuit connections etween a subscribers station and an exchange-sectlon.

Similar figures of yreference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Fig. 10 of the present a lication is identicalwith Fig. 1 of Patent o. 757,031, above referred to. Fi 11 of the present ap lication is identica with Fig. 2 of the a ovementioned patent. The apparatus illustrated in the drawings of the resent application is capable of accommo ating ten thousand subscribers.

The switchboard of an exchange according to the present invention is very similar to an ordinary switchboard and consists of a series of upright panels carrying the answeringpanel and trunkinganel, consisting of the answering-jacks andp trunk-jacks, the linelamps, line indicating-lam s, and trunk indieating-lam s. The num er of answeringjacks, line-la ps, and line indicating-lamps is equal to the number of subscribers connected to the exchange-section. The number of trunk indicating-lamps is equal to the number o f exchange-sections connected to the system, and the number of trunk-lines connecting each exchange-section with another exchange-section is based upon the highest number of connections made at one time between any two exchange-sections.

10 in Fig. 1 of the drawings represents the trunk-jacks of the trunking-panel of an exchange-section, and 11 re resents the trunk indicatin -lamps In t e drawingsj two trunk-jac s are shown for each trunk indieating-lamp);` but groups of more than two jacks may Ve a portoned to each lamp, according to the ghest number of trunk connections made at one time between two exchange-sections, 'and an idle trunk-jack in4 the group may be selected by theoperator by emp oying the well-known busy-test set 85.

12 in Figs. 1 and 1 1'is the hundreds-impulse receiver, and 13 is the thousands-impulse receivcr of the trunkingpanel.

14 in Fig. 11 is the trunking-key, and 15 is the telephone set of a calling subscriber. The si al-sending apparatus connected with the te eplhone set of each subscriber is illustrated in 'g. 10. This si al-sending ap aratus forms the sibject o United States etters Patent No. 757,030, granted to me April 12, 1904, for improvements in signaling apparatus, whereinthe details of construction and the operation of the apparatus arefully described, and this apparatus is not herein claimed as new. l

-Referring now to Fig. 10', the number-ringe characters for 'ident' `'ng each subscriber connected to the telep one system are indicated by 16, 17, 18, and 19. Each of the number-rings coperates with a toothed character-disk 20, 21, 22, and 23 and is pro'- vided with a contact-spring 24, 25, 26, and 27. Each ring is also in constant contact lwith a roller 27, 28', 29, and 30, electrically The character-diskv 20 is rovided with an additional or eleventh toot The signal-sendingapparatus is furthermore rovided with a rotating contact device 35, aving a contact-piece 36 capable of bridging either the stationar contact-springs 37 37 or 38 38. .A cloclarwoz 39 40 41 of the signal-sending apparatus causes the rotation of the characterdisks 20 21, 22, and 23 and the contact device 35. The sto device for the clockwork consists of a dou le-armed lever 42, operated by a magnet 43, which is suitably connected to the lines leading from the subscribers section to the exchange. A pair of springs 45 are capable of `makin electrical connection between ground and t e frame of the signalsending apparatus or ground and the lines by means of a lever 44, co yrating with the Winding part 39 of the cloc work. 10o

The impulse-receiver illustrated in Figs.`3 to 9 comprises a base-plate 46 and the operating parts secured t creto. A stationa bearing-shaft 47 carries an insulating-dis 48, provided with contact segments 49. Supported by ,the bearing 47 and asecond bearing 50 is a rotatable shaft 51, to which are secured apair of lar er ratchet-wheels 52 and a smaller ratchetgheel 53. Rotatably supported by the shaft'51 is a sleeve 54, having a disk to which is secured the spring-con- IIO . trolled pawl 55, englaging the smaller ratchetwheel 53. Y The s eeve 54 is furthermore provided witha pinion 56, in mesh with a se mental gear 57, carried on a shaft 68 parr 15 al el to the shaft 51. To this shaft 68 is rigidly connectedan arm 87 and rotatably supported a lever 58, having a in 88, adaptedto,

act `against the arm 87. ods 59 connect the free ends of thelevers 58 to the core 60 of 1go a resettin -solenoid 61. On the shaft 68, carryin t e segmental gear 57 and the lever 58, is a elica] spring 62, one end of which is secured to the segmental ear 57 and the other end to the frame o the a paratus. 1 25 When the coil of the resetting-solenoid 61 becomes ener ized, the core 60 is drawn up,

the in 88 oft e lever 58 acts against the arm 87, t e shaft 68 with thesegmental gear 57 is rotated, and thespring 62 is Wound up. The r 3o Y Y 'eti-im VV over the binding-screws 70 and 71 to the 5 bet the rotation ofthe shaft ririepreented Y Vneti end engaging alternately the teeth of 5,2 to a tooth'of the other, the teeth of' the o 67 are proyided for tornroiliielly hold t le ar- Y necting the saine wiii-ie ine indicatinglamps 75 or the trunkindicating-lemps 11, as

' and the ine'indiceting-iamps 75 are prefer-'VY 57o Vone xehn e-'seetion-in other werds, eo-

Y feoiding tgt' e sornlled percentngeH basiel A Sienne -oeteifeps S2 Y and; 832er@ dred, ten, and unit inipuise' receivers sind the Y' fiieeing-lemns lige-'elwn n Y n co end the line-lamp 73 Yeinerrenged 1n the oids 6i and the sender-restarter 80, are coneeees Y Yniente?'een' 57, and the pewl 5.5Y glides elongY theV eet l of the sm'aller ratchet-wheel 53;;n

'one or tbegotieegeieierger ratohet-wheeie' 52. A For "eeeiijener 'cation of the me net 64 two retcbet-'Wbees ,'beingfte ered, and

allowed tow Il. The .sleeve 547m provided with a lever- 65, having en tsf da contactgliding oveglth j inet-'segments 4 of the insulating-dis SrlSpiral s rings mature-pend Sgxggtrfrom the magnet 611i Electrical connectionjis madebetwcen the ma nets 64 Aover the'binding-screws 69 {itt}V en between the magnet of the solenoid 61V subscribers lines. Each of the contact-Segments 49 of the mediating-disk 48 is provided with a pin 72 fori-tbe urpoee of coniereinefter set forthQ; e

vided with a numbei of line-lamps 73 an an one for each Snberier.- v Theline-lemps 73 ebly mede of different color-for instance?" tlong teY piace at necting-bttery kale E in deub e the nnm'b' ing piece at one time.;

eender-rcsterters 8D oneonlyis provided fr each exchange-section; Tiierimk indicating-lampe liy the trunkiek 1', the line inusual manner on fronti-pmt right panels of tbe'snnle i df.' n sand, hundred! Eenpjirn ,lrlpuis receiv- Y ers l 2, 13, 76, sind 77',Y 'with the resetting-solenof the urn-W The thon:

behind the upright panel. eretor 84 and the bet-tenes nsnei and convenient, The cieering-ent lern S782 end 8'3, answeringlugs 89, iinlingplbgs' 90,` connecting-p ugs 91, trunkin -keye 14, ring-beck keys 78, con- 'nectngartery keys 79, end target-annunciators 81 are located in e number of sets,'ac- 'ordi'n to the @nientege basis on the key- Yshelf o the eXclienge-section.

The individnelnieans adj sucent to each termine'l for indicating the terminals between which VconnectionY ie desired are intended to include any device by Wbicb the attention of the operator can be celled to these terminnls,

in the seinenY engelse. i

. permiten o #Le otsnoZ-scgnaZ-Tecewmg sys- Visf enV foil 7'" The sbscribcr at his station living* ireeeteblished the signal to be Sent by sett-ingfilie number-rings to the proper combination and winding the clockwork 39 has in releesng the winding-knob placed onnd on the freineY of the a paratlis by ma ing condesired One o the trunk indicating- YWp 1i at the trnnkng-panei 'of the exlang'e-eect'en jo the ceiling subscriber cor- Vf,respondin'gf' ttie si 'al received will light f'iieoneretor p ugs the trunking-j ack fone" of her trunking-plugs 9), end thereby eeteblisiee connection between the calling suhwc'iib'el and that: exchange-section to which Y the celled Subecber is connected. The op- Lnuncintore Si ett-ber{inchang-section ofthe time thcthousand Vend hundred impulse receiv'ersY 9' and 13"@ be reset. The operetdr i neiingelseetion of the, celled subscriber tneroupon operates be ring-back levy 78 and eeneee the balance o the Signal represen ting the tene and units of the snlaeerlwfe 'W 7 n.wing niet lights one of tile lim' ln- V*die-B, -ingiemns 75 corresponding to the clledasubscriberenumber at the answeringpeneieiY her Section. She now plu "s the lmswei'ng-jaek 74 corresponding te t ie ighted Wlamp 75 with the connecting-plug 9i corroci Yelectrieel energj;Y 'ere io-A tmiY-Tlie operetien Vof the present invention.

tact between one n the sprin Us 45'and the leifbelengin'g to' the lighted lan-1D 1l with IOO *Y and 'i3 te receive the si nel o the exeiienge- Y Y White end red. EeclnnsWering-penel is alsof T 4o provided with n units-impulse'receiver 76,

tens-impulse receiver 77, a resetting-solenoid IIC eretor in further manipulating the trunkinfmlf-Y key 14 causes thereby one of the target-an- U Ycelled snbeeribeirrep and at nthe seine spending to the trunk-line calling and again operates the ring-back key, whereby the l magneto-generator 84 is broueht in circuit with the. calling subscril'ier, int icating to the same b v ringing his bell that connection has been established. The o Jerator at the exchange-section of the cal ed subscriber now operates the connecting-batter)Y key Tt) and causes a circuit to be established between the magneto-generator S4 and the called subscriber, indicating to him b v ringing his bell thatcommunication with him is desired. The called subscriber thereupon'removes his receiver' from the receivm-hook, the clearingout lamp S2 lighted, and the talking-circuit is now established. Having finished the conversation, the called subscriber by hanging up his receiver ext nguishes the clearingout lamp X2. The olierator at the exchangesection ot` this subscriber thereupon pulls out the connecting-pl ug J1 and. restores the connecting-battery key T9, ring-back key 78, and target-annunciator 81 to their normal position, whereby the clearing-out lamp at the exchange-section of the calling subscriber is extinguished. Means may be provided l or restoring thc target-annunciator by lifting the coiniecting-plug Q1 from its seat on the shelf. In. noticing this the operator at this exchange-section withdraws the trunking-plug titl and the answering-plug 8() from their jacks, restores the trunking-key 14, and thereby all partsilsed, to their normal oon- Clition.

The circuits established between the subscribcrs station and the exchange are as follows: The sulriscriber at his station in winding the clockwork 39 and by releasing the winding-knob makes contact between the lever '14 and one of the ground-springs 45 and establishes a circuit as follows: from ground at the suhscribcrs station to one of the ground-springs 45, through the lever 44 to the roller 2T of the thousaml-number ring 16, the eleventh tooth of the character-disk 20, over the lim` A to the answering-panel of the excinnige-section of the calling Subscriber and a relay-magnet controlling the line-lamp 73 of the calling subscriber. The operator at this exchange-seetion after )utting one of the answering-plugs S0 into the jack 74 corresponding to the lighted lamp 73 presses the trunking-key 14 to its iirst working position, whereby the magnet 43 at the subscriber's station is energized, releases the clockwork I), 4t), and 41, and the part of the signal representing the thousand and hundred numerals is sent simultaneously over both inetallic lines and the ground connection to the cxchange-section. The circuit over which the signal representing the thousand-numeral is sent 1s as follows: commencing at ground at the subseribcrs station to the upon the ground-spring 45, the lever 44, the roller 27, the thousaml-numeral ring 16, the spring 24,

the thousaiul-character disk 20, the stationary spring 31, over line A to the exchange, the upper spring of the jack 74, the sleeve of the plug t 9, the second spring from the middle line on the left-hand side of the key 14, the lirst spring on the same side now in contact therewith, the magnet 64 of the thousand-impulse receiver 13 to battery and ground at the exchange. The circuit over which .the signal representing the hundrednumeral is sent is as follows: commencing at ground atr the subscribers station to the ground-spring 45, the lever 44, the roller 28, the hundred-numeral ring 17, the spring 25, the hundred-character disk 21, the stationary spring 32, over line B to the exchan e, the lower spring of the jack 74, the tip of t e nlug S9, the second spring from the middle iine on the right-hand side of the key 14, the tirst spring on the same side now in Contact therewith, the magnet 64 of the hundred-impulse receiver 12 to battery and ground at the exchange. The impulses originating with the"thousand-character disk 2() are received by the thousand-impulse receiver 13, and the impulses originating with the hundred-character disk 21 are received by the hundred-im )ulse receiver 12 at the exchangesection in the following Way: For each impulse sent from the thousand-character disk of the subseribers station the magnets 64 of the impulse-receivers 12 and 13 become energized, and the pawls 63, forming the armature of these magnets, are moved from one tooth of one of the ratchet-wheels 52 to a tooth of the other wheel 52. Under the tension of the springs 62 the sleeves 54 are rotated and the contact-brushes 66 of the rotating arms 65 from one contact-segment 49 of the insulated disk 48 to another as often as an impulse is originated at the sending apparatus. The contact-brushes 66 finally rest segments corresponding to the thousand and hundred numeral comprising the tirst part of the signal.

The frames of the thousand and hundred impulse receivers 13 and 12 are insulated from each other, but connected to the two sides of a battery. When now the contactbrushes 66 rest upon the segments 49, selected by the first part of the signal received l' rom the subscrihers station, a local circuit is established from that battery through the frame of the thousand-impulse receiver 13, the brush 66, the segment of the thousandimpulse receiver, one of the trunk indlcatinglamps 11 contained in a row of lamps corresponding to the thousand-numeral received and also in a row of lamps corresponding to the humlred-numeral received, the segment ot' the hundred-impulse receiver 12 corresponding to the signal received from the subscri bers station, through the brush 66 and the frame of the hundred-impulse receiver 12 back to the battery. The effect of this our- TOO lamp 82 is lighted. indicating that the called l subscriber has removed his receiver from the hook and talking connection is established between the calling and called subscriber.

What is considered new and useful, and intended to be rotected byLetters Patent, is-

l. In com ination with signal sending and receiving means, line-terminals, means for electrically connecting any two of said lineterminals, and separate means for and ad'acent to each line-terminal and operated Jby the signal-receiving. means for directly indicating the location of a terminal to which connection is desired.

2. In combination with signal sending and receiving means, line-terminals, means for electrically connecting any two of said lineterminals, and separate automatic means for and adjacent to each line-terminal and operated by the signal-receiving means for directly indicating the location of a terminal to which connection is desired.

In combination with signal sending and receivin means, line-terminals, means for electrica ly connecting any two of said lineterminals, and separate visual means for and adjacent to each line-terminal and operated by the signal-receiving means for directly indicating the location of a terminal to which connection is desired.

4. In combination with signal sending and receiving means, line-terminals, hand-operated means for electrically connecting any two of said lineterminals, and separate means for and adjacent to each line-terminal and operated by the signal-receiving means adapted to indicate the location of a terminal to which connection is desired.

5. In combination with signal sending and receiving means, line-terminals, hand-operated means for electrically connecting any two of said line-terminals, and separate automatic means for and adjacent tol each line-terminal and operated by the signal-receiving means adapted to indicate the location of a terminal to which connection is desired.

6. In a visualsignalreceiving system, the combination with a. pluralit of impulse-receivers, of a plurality of circuits each one controlled by the joint action of the impulsereceivers, and translating devices in each circuit, each ofthe same adapted to operate at a specific condition of the impulsa-receivers only.

7. In a visual-signal-receiving system, the combination with a plurality of impulse-receivers having a rotary contact-brush and stationary contact-segments, a plurality of circuits controlled by the relative position of the contact-brushes on the segments, and translating devices in the circuits, each operated only by one of the relative positions ot' the contact-brushes on the segments. j

8. In a telephonie system, the combination with subscribers terminals at an exchange, a signal device for each subscriber at said exchange, hand operated connecting means for the subscribers terminals, and automatic means initiallycontroll'ed by one subscriber to operate the signal of a second subscriber.

9. In a telephonie system, the combination with subscribers stations and an exchange, of individual signals for each subscriber at the exchan e, signal-sending apparatus at the subsci ers station, and impulse receivers at the exchange initially controlled by one subscriber and adapted to operate. the individual signal of another subscriber.

10. In a telephone-exchange, a plurality of Visual signals 1n proximity to line-terminals and means for actuating a visual signal of one of the line-terminals by an initiating act of a si nal-sending ap aratus belonging to anot 1er line-termina 11. The combination of a series of' independent line-terminals, one or more branch or loo circuits, means for connecting any two o said line-terminals with each other` through one of said loop-circuits, a plurality. of signal-receivers, a luralit of local circuits, each one control ed by t le joint action of the signal-receivers, and translating devices' in each local circuit and adjacent to each line-terminal, adapted to operate at a specific condition of the si nal-receivers only, and directly indicating t e line-terminal to which connection is desired.

In testimon f whereof I have hereunto Set my hand, in t e presence of two subscribing witnesses, at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 24th day of July, 1903.

ERNEST A. FALLER.

In presence ot `RALPH JULIAN SAcHERs, K. O. CHIsHoLM.

IOO 

